Brazil’s dream of a tenth Copa America title was abruptly shattered on Saturday evening: national coach Dorival Junior’s team fell to Uruguay in the quarter-finals – because two Brazilians lost their nerve from the spot.
With great ambitions, record world champions Brazil traveled to the Copa America in the USA, but returned to the Sugarloaf Mountain with a big disappointment in their luggage. The South Americans, who had failed to impress throughout the tournament, lost 4-2 on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
Brazil struggled to find gaps in a fiercely contested match with 41 fouls (!) throughout the entire 90 minutes against a Uruguay side that fought back with aplomb. The yellow card suspension for Champions League winner Vinicius Junior made itself felt, and without Real’s striker, the favorites hardly created any moments of surprise.
And even in the final quarter of an hour, when Brazil were allowed to play in superior numbers, coach Dorival Junior’s charges did not develop enough penetration. Cagliari’s Nandez was shown a straight red card after a hard tackle on Real attacker Rodrygo (74′). Real new signing Endrick was also repeatedly tackled hard and was hardly able to develop his full potential
Eder Militao and Douglas Luiz fail to hold their nerve
Since there is no extra time in the Copa America quarter-finals and semi-finals, the penalty lottery had to be decided immediately. And even there, the Brazilians did not put on a show in the packed Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Uruguay simply showed the better nerves.
Eder Militao, another Real professional, was Brazil’s first scorer to fail, before Juve newcomer Douglas Luiz hit the post with the Seleçao’s third penalty. Keeper Rochet was the hero for the Celeste, for whom only Atletico’s Gimenez (who came on early for the injured Araujo) missed a penalty. PSG midfielder Ugarte converted the decisive attempt
“Despite our youth, we showed character,” said the delighted keeper Rochet, who plays for SC Internacional in Brazil: “This group of players deserves it, the whole country deserves it.” Now Uruguay, who have been waiting 13 years for a Copa triumph, “want to achieve even more.”
Colombia, who won their quarter-final against underdog Panama 5-0, await in the semi-finals on Thursday (2:00 CEST). “There is no consolation prize, but we have shown that we have a team with a future,” said Brazil right-back Danilo in an initial summary.